14 South Africans tee it up at Kenya Open, serious six set sights on Arnold Palmer Invitational

Centurion - A grand total of 20 South Africans will be in action on the premier golf tours this week, with 14 teeing it up at the Kenya Open, at the Muthaiga Golf Club in Nairobi, starting on Thursday.

Leading the SA charge in the DP World Tour’s (DPWT) Kenya Open will be defending champion Justin Harding.

The 36-year-old is 11th in the DPWT rankings with two top-10 finishes this year and a 25th place his worst result from his three events. Harding also notched up a tie for 24th on the Asian Tour’s Saudi International at the beginning of February.

With Harding in promising form, there’s every chance he will produce a strong title defence.

Defending champion @JustinHarding60 plotting his way around @muthaigagolfclub at The #MagicalKenyaOpen - A return to the inaugural venue of this historic event. Previous winners here include #Seve #Woosnam #Immelman Coverage starts Thursday! pic.twitter.com/gNwf7w6LwV

Another South African who could be in contention is Zander Lombard. The 27-year-old has two third place finishes in his last two events, starting with The Ras Al Khaimah Classic on the DPWT three weeks ago; and the co-sanctioned Sunshine and European Challenge Tour’s Cape Town Open a week later.

Joburg Open champion Thriston Lawrence has moved down to 19th on the DPWT rankings after winning the first event of the 2022 season in November. Since his breakthrough victory, which also earned him exemption into The Open at St Andrews later this year, the 25-year-old has found good results rather more elusive. In his next five events he has missed two cuts and notched up two top-20 finishes.

Meanwhile, SA Open champion Daniel van Tonder will fancy his chances at the Kenya Open. Van Tonder won the Kenya Savannah Classic last year